BEING named Swansea City player of the year and reaching the play-offs might have been enough to contemplate in one week.

But Alan Tate is already focusing on another ambition ... running out against his beloved Sunderland.

Easington-born Tate grew up almost within earshot of the 'Roker roar' and knows clinching promotion with Swansea would secure a dream date against recently-relegated Sunderland in the Championship next season.

"I'd love to go up there as a Swansea player," revealed Tate, who last week beat the likes of Lee Trundle and Andy Robinson to the club's player of the year award.

"It's a dream for any player to play against the team they support.

"I always supported Sunderland as a kid and I'm no different. It would be great for me to play up there."

Though Tate, 23, is dreaming of lining up at the Stadium of Light, he knows a dark end to the season awaits if Swansea fail to negotiate the League One play-offs.

First up is Thursday's semi-final first leg against Brentford at the Liberty Stadium, with the return at Griffin Park just three days later.

And Tate will be keen to banish some unpleasant memories on Sunday as the versatile defender was sent off in west London during Swansea's 2-1 defeat on Boxing Day.

"I don't think I was unfortunate, I deserved to go," said Tate, reflecting on two yellow cards which saw him dismissed inside 25 minutes.

"But that's gone now and we're in the play-offs. Hopefully we can keep it to 11 men this time and get through to the final.

"We'll try and get a good result at home and see what we can do down there."

Swansea reversed that 2-1 holiday defeat by beating Brentford by the same scoreline at home in mid-March.

And that, Tate says, provides Kenny Jackett's men with the self-belief to take a first-leg advantage to Brentford.

"The home game against them was probably one of the best games of the season," he said.

"We'd had three games in the space of six days but we played really well and got a great win.

"I thought we were going to kick on from there, but we didn't and we've had to settle for the play-offs.

"We always seem to make it hard for ourselves and to go down to the last game was a bit nervy.

"But we played well at Chesterfield and hopefully we can take that form into the semi-final.

"Brentford are missing a few strikers which might help us, but they've got a good midfield and strength in depth.

"It's going to be tight over two legs but they're games we can definitely win."